Apparatus for use in silvering vacuum bottles



NOV. 12, 1929. WETMORE 1,735,343

APPARATUS FOR USE IN SILVERING VACUUM BOTTLES Filed June 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY No'v. 12, 1929. M. P. WETMORE 4117355343 APPARATUS FOR USE IN SILVERING VACUUM BOTTLES Filed June 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITEDFS'TATEGSL PFATENTTOF'PLAIICE MINER r. WET CBE, or NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB To Tran AMERICAN THERMOS BOT LE COMPANY, 01 NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or APPARATUS FOR USE'IN SILVEBING VACUUM BOTTLES Application filed June 8, 1927. Serial No. 197,411.

My invention relates to the manufacture of double-walled vacuum bottles in which two glass cylinders (known as the filler) are separated by an evacuated annular space or chamher. It is customary to silverfthe walls of the vacuum chamberto improve the heat-re-' vacuum pump and with a receptacle containing the silver solution. After the filler is put on its support, the operator need only depress a pedal (or move an equivalent member) whereupon the :following operations take place automatically: The bottle is first coni nected with the vacuum pump to exhaust the annular space bet-ween the two cylinders, and then the evacuated ch amber is connected with the receptacle containing the silver solution,

3 of which a measured quantity is instantly fore the silver solution is drawn into the bottle, it is necessary to put into 'it a small amount of acid to effect the subsequent precipitation of the silver. A fixed amount of acid flows into the silver solution from a cup, which is automatically tilted just before the evacuated bottle is opened to the solution re-f ce tacle. A further treatment and an empty one is put in its place. The filling operation reouires only a few seconds. The mechanism for accomplishing this result is comparatively simple." One operator can easily take care of two bottles on the machine at the same time while methods andmeans for 'drawn into the vacuum chamber; Just be-' The filled bottle is removedfor one bottle is being evacuated, the other is be- 7 ing filled. i

The advantages of my invention will be fully understood from a description of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-. q Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a filling machine constructed in accordance with my in vention; I

F ig. Q'is a fragmentary view on a larger scale showing the acid cup in tipped position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in perspective, showing one of the cam mechanisms for operating the valves that controlthe evacuatlnsr and filling operations for the bottles on one ofthe tubular supports;

- Fig. 4 is afragmentary view partly in sec A I tion, showing certain parts of the cup-tilting connections Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. showing the second cam mechanism, which controls the evacuating and filling operations for the bottles on the other support;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detall view in section to show how the Valve-actuating cams are clutched to the driving shaft through one revolution, and I 1 Fig. 8 isa face view of the clutch disk associated with the controlling cams. On a suitable table 1 is'mounted a system of tubes or pipes, which in this instance consists. of tour flexible tubes 2, 3, 4 and 5, a pair of T-shaped connectors 6 and 7, and a central connection 8. The flexible or collapsible tubes are preferably made of reinforced rub-v ber, and the connecting pieces may be glass I tubes fitting airtight into the ends of the rubber tubes. Suitable brackets hold the connecting pieces firmly in position. This system oftubing terminates at its ends in a v pair of L-shaped tubes 9 and 10, usually of glass, which dip into cups 11 and '12, respectively. 'Ihese cups which contain the sil-' VeI' solution, are suitably supported at the The acid cups are so arranged that, when so ends of the table, as by means of brackets 13 secured to the front table legs 14. A pair of brackets 15 extend rcarwardly of the table for supporting storage bottles 16, which supply the silver solution to receptacles 11 and 12. For this purpose there are pipe connections 17 between bottles 16 and cups 11 and 12, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the supply bottles 16 is provided with an air-tube 18, which extends to a certain distance above the bottom of the bottle. This is to regulate the quantity of'solution flowing into cups 11 and 12 for each filling operation. By adjusting the height of tube 18. the quantity of silver solution flowing into the cups can be regulated to the required measure.

The T-shaped connecting pieces; 6 and 7 are each formed with a tubular arm 19, which extends upwardly and is inclined rearwardly at a convenient angle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The tubular a rm l9 is adapted to receive the tubular extension 20 of a double-walled glass filler or bottle 21. The receiving end of arm 19 is preferably made of rubber or i like material in Order to effect an airtight fit with the filler, which is heldin proper position by resting on a bracket- 22 mounted on the table top. Each bottle is thus held by the tubular arm 19 at one end and by the bracket 22 at the other end, so that the parts 19 and 22 may be referred to as a bottle support. The central pipe or tube 8, which connects the flexible tubes 3 and 4, is connected with a vacuum pump (not shown). The dotted line 23 in Fig. 5 represents diagrammatically a connection leading from pipe 8 through the tabletop to vacuum pump V located at a suitable place. This will be understood with out additional illustration especially since'I lay no claim to any particular construction of vacuum pump.

On the table top are mounted two pipes or tubes 24 and 25, which connect with a T- shaped piece 26. A tube 27 connects member 26 with an acid bottle or holder 28 on the table. An air tube 29 bottle 28 regulates the supply of acid in the same manner as described in connection with the silver solution bottles 16. The pipes 24 and 25 connect with small cups 30 and 31, respectively, which are tiltably mounted on tubular extensions or bearings 32, as best shown in Fig. 2. When the cups 30 and 31 are in normal upright po[ sition, they are open to the acid bottle. 28 for receivin a redetermined uantit of acid. a P

For this purpose, each cup is formed at the bottom with anopening 33 adapted to communicate with pipe connections 24 and 25.

tilted, the contents are dischargedinto the silver solution contained in the adjacent receptacle 1-1 or 12. This is clearly seen in Fig. 2.. The mechanism for tilting the acid cups at the proper moment will be described later Along the front edge of the table are pivoted four arms, designated by 34, 35, 36 and 37. These arms are mounted at the front end on brackets 38 by means of pins 39. It will be observed from Fig. 5 that the arms 3437 are arranged transversely over the flexible tubes 2-5, respectively. \Vhen each arm is depressed, it pinches the tube beneath to close the same, very much like a pinch-cock. To facilitate this pinching action of arms 3437, I provide a block 40 on the table beneath each tube 2-5 in line with the associated arm. In the broad view of my invention, the arms 34,-37 may be regarded as a suitable form of valve for controlling the evacuating and armsare connected at their rear ends to levers 41, 42, 43 and 44, respectively, by means of vertical links 45. The levers 41-44 are pivoted at 46 to suitable brackets 47 beneath thetable'.-

It is clear from the foregoing that, when the front end of a lever 4144 is rocked downwardly, the connected arm 34-37 is pulled down to close the flexible tube 25. When the valve arms 35 and 36 are pulled down by levers 42 and 43, the bottle supports 6 and 7 are cut off from the vacuum pump. When the valve arms 34 and 37 are pulled down, the bottle supports are disconnected from the solution cups 11 and 12. As will presently be explained, the lovers 41-44 are sotimed that when the valve arm or pinch-cock 35 is opened to connect a bottle on support 6 with the vacuum pump, the valve arm 34 is downto close off the bottle from the solution cup 11. Conversely, when the arm 35 is down to cut off the vacuum, the arm 34 is up to connect the bottle with the solution cup 11. The same operative relation holds true for valve arms 36 and 37. The two valve arms 34 and 35 are so timed relatively to arms 36 and 37 that, when the arm 35 is down, the arm 36 is up, and when the arm 34 is up, the arm 37 is down. As a result of this timing, when the bottle on support 6 is open to the vacuum pump, thebottle on support 7 is open to the solution cup 12, and vice versa.

I now come to the mechanism for control lingthe valve members 34-.37 in properly timed relation to effect the sequence of operations described in the preceding paragraph. At theback of the table runs a power shaft 48 mounted in bearings 49. As a source of power'for shaft'48 I have indicated an electric motor .50 geared to the power shaft through a drive chain 51 and reducing gears 52. Any suitable means may be used to drive the shaft48 continuously at the correct speed. On power shaft 48 are mounted two pairs of cams 5354 and 5556. Each pair of cams may be cast as a single member.. A clutch disk- 57 is fixed 011 shaft 48 adjacent each pair of cams, which are normally loose on the power shaft. Cam 53 is formed with a high track 53 and 515wtrack 53*. V The adjacent cam 54 has a high track 54? and a low track 54*. As best shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 3, thehigh and low tracksof cams 53;

and 54 are arranged 180 degrees apart, and each track occupies about half the circumference. The rear end of lever 41 carries a roller 58 arranged toengage cam 53. A roller 59 mounted on the rear end of lever 42 runs on cam 5-4. These rollers are continuously held in firm contact with their respective cam tracks by coil springs 60 attached to the levers near their front ends. I

That has been said about cams 53 and 54 of Fig. 3 applies fully to cams 55 and56of Fig. 6, the only difference being that the corresponding operative surfaces of the two pairs of cams are relatively displaced 180 degrees; This is clear bysimply comparing Figs. 3 and 6. I need therefore only mention that 55 and 55 indicate the high and low tracks of cam 55, and 56 and 56 designate the'high and low tracks of cam 56. The rear end of lever 43 carries a roller .61 held constantly inengagement with cam 55, and'a roller 62 at the rear end of lever 44 rides over cam 56;

Each pair of cams 53-54 and 5556 is connected to and disconnected from the as sociated clutch disk 57 by means of the following mechanism, which is duplicated for each pair of cams, so that a description of one is sufficient forboth/ From one face of each pair of cams projects a frame 63 form,- ing a radial recess 64, inwhich' is mounted a block 65. The frame 63 may conveniently be cast integral with the cams. The block 65 is mounted to slide axially in recess 64 and carries a pin 66'arranged to extendaxially throughthe adjacent cam, as best shown in Fig. 7. Each pair of cams 535-54 and 55-56 is provided with a cylindrical chamber 67 in which is housed a coil spring 68. The pin 66, which always moves with the block 65,

terminates in a head 69 having; a looking I 1310160 51011 70.

The normal tendency I of spring 68 is to push the projection70 into a hole 71 in clutch disk 57 As seen in Fig. 8, the holes 1 are arranged circularly as close together as possible without weakening the disk. The slidable block 65 is formed on'top with a beveled face 72 arranged to beengaged by a correspondingly beveled head 73 on a lever 74 pivoted at 75 on a bracket 76 below the table. For, the sake of distinction I have used the reference numeral 74- in 6 to indicate the lever which carries the cam-head Below the table are two pedals 77 and 78, which are connected by'links 79 to the levers 74 and 74. Acoil spring 80 normally holds the cam, head 73 downwardly in engage;

ment with the cam face 72 of the slidable block 65. This means that normally the cam head 73 holds the block 65 away-from the ad- "jacent cam, so that the projection 70 of pin 66 is'out of engageinentwith clutch disk 57 Therefore, as long as the rear end of lever 74 (501- 74) remains in engagementwith block 75, the cams are stationary and there is no movement of levers 41-'44. When the oporator depresses pedal 77, the rcar endoflever 74 is raisedout of engagement with bloclr65; As soon'as one of the holes 71 in the continuously rotating clutch disk '57 comes in alignment with the lockinog head 70'of pin. 66 .the tension'cd spring; 68 asserts itself and pushes the head 70 into the aligned" clutch hole; whereupon the cams rotate with disk 57. If the operator keeps his foot onpedal 77 and'thus' holds the cam head 73 1n raised-position, the cams continueto roare with the shaft; but if the operator re-= leases the pedal after depressing it, as he is supposedto do, the cam head 7 3 drops back into normal locking position. Consequently,

after the cams have made one revolution,the

cam face 72 of block 65' comes in contact with the cam head 73 and lsforc'ed to the left (as viewed in 7 whereby the locking pro jection 70 is withdrawn from thec'lutch disk interval in whichthe cams 53'54 are con-' nected with the drivingshaftfor one revolution. While the roller 58 of lever 41 "rides on thehigh'track 53, the roller59'oflever 42 rides on the low track 54". This means that while the valve lever 34 is held down in closing position, the lever 35.remains up in open position, so that a filler on support 6 is open to the vacuum pump for approximately a half revolution of the cams. This interval is sufficient to cause partial evacuation of the annular space between the glass cylinders I of the bottle. When the high track 54 passes under roller 59 of lever 42, the roller 58 encounters the low track 53, whereby the lever 35 is rocked down to closing position'andthe lever 34 is'raised to connect the evacuated filler with the silver solution in receptacle 11. Instantly the vacuum in the bottle draws in the contents of the cup. As thecams come plate one revolution, the block 65 encounters the camhead 73 of lever 74, and the cams are automatically disconnected from the driv- 'ing shaft, as already explained.

The operation described in the preceding paragraph is also applicable to the cam niechanism shown in Fig; 6,. which controls the evacuating and filling of the bottle on sup-- p'ort7, except that, while the first bottle is being filled, the bottle on support 7 isbeing evacuated. Thisgives the operator a chance to load one side of themachine'whfle the 1 other is being filledl I Thereremains to k be described the connections for automatically tiltinglthe acid cups 30 and 31 just before (or just as) the silver solution is drawn into the bottle. Since these connections are the same for both acid cups, a description of one will do for both. As already explained, each acid cup is tiltably mounted on a tubular extension which allows the cup to connect with the acid storage bottle 28." Each cup is provided with a cylindrical bearing 81 (see Fig. 4), which has a rearwardly extending arm 82 connected to the adjacent lever 4l-by a link 83. The link 83 for cup 31 is connected to lever 44. Since the levers 41 and 44 are beneath the table, while the arms 82 are at the side of the table, the links 83 are bent as shown in Fig. 4, in order to permit vertical movement of the parts. When the front ends of levers 41 and 44 are raised to rock the valve arms 34 and 37 upwardly into open position, the links 83 are thrown up at the same time to tilt the acid cups toward the receptacles 11 and 12. The required amount of acid is thus added to the silver solution just before (or perhaps just at) the moment when the contents of the solution receptacles are drawn into the evacuated filler. The acid cannot be added to the silver solution for any length of time before the filling operation, as other- 7 Wise the silver would begin .to precipitate.

The operation of the machine as a whole will be clear from the preceding description, but it may be well to summarize the sequence of events from the time a bottle is put on until removed. After the operator has placed a bottle on the table in connection with the tubular support 6, he depresses pedal 77. Almost instantly the valve arm or pinch-cock 35 is thrown open to connect the bottle with the vacuum pump, while the arm 34 remains closed. After about half a revolution of shaft 48 the vacuum valve .35 is closed and the valve 34 is raised. At the same time, the acid cup is tilted to add the proper amount of acid to the silver solution just as the latter .is being sucked into the evacuated bottle.

The suction action is sutlieiently powerful to empty the Solution receptacle almost instantly, and the mixture of silver solution and acid enters the evacuated bottle with a rapid swirling motion. The filled bottle is removed and a fresh one put in its place. The filled bottle is then subjected to a further treatment to cause a uniform precipitation of metallic silver on the walls of the vacuum chamher. It will not be necessary to say anything about this further treatment because that forms no part of the present invention. The time elapsing between the loading of an empty bottle and the removal of a filled bottle is not more than about eight or ten seconds- If desired, the machine may have only one bottle support, but I prefer to make provisions for handling two bottles at a time.

Although I have shown and described a specific construction, I want it understood that I do not intend to be limited to the de tails set forth. It is manifest that changes and modifications will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a filling machine of the class described, a fixed tubular member extending upwardly at an angle for receiving the tubular extension of a in an airtight fit, a support cooperating with said member to hold the connected bottle in a stationary inclined position with the base projecting downward, means for connecting said tubular member with a vacuum pump, connections leading from said tubular memher to a receptacle containing a suitable solution, valve mechanism for connecting said tubular member first with the vacuum pump and then with said receptacle, and means for operating said valve mechanism.

2. In a filling machine of the class described, a fixed tubular member extending upwardly at an angle for receiving the tubular extension of a double-walled glass bottle in an airtight fit, a support cooperating with said member to hold the connected bottle in a stationary inclined position with the base projecting downward, means for connecting said tubular member with a vacuum pump, means for connecting said tubular member with a receptacle containing a suitable solution, a valve for controlling each of said connections, and cam-controlled means for operating said valves in'properly timed relation to. connect said tubular member alternately with the vacuum pump and with said receptacle.

In a filling machine of the class described, a fixed tubular member extending upwardly at angle for receiving the tubular extension of a' doublewalled glass bottle in an airtight fit, a support cooperating with said member to hold the connected bottle in a stationary inclined position with the base projecting downward, a pair of flexible tubes connected with said member, means for connecting oneof said tubes with a vacuum pump, means for connecting the other tube with a receptacle containing a suitable solution, a pivoted arm for pinching each tube, and cam-controlled connections for operating said arms in properly timed relation to connect said member alternately with the vacuum pump and with said receptacle.

4. In a filling machine of the class described, a tubular member for receiving the tubular extension of a double-walled glass bottle, means for holding the connected bottle in an inclined position with the base proj ecting downward, means for connecting said member with a vacuum pump, means for connecting said member with a receptacle containing a suitable solution, a valve for double-walled glass bottle controllingeach of saidconnections, a rotary shaft, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft and normally disconnected therefrom, a pair of levers controlled by sai d cams for operatingsaid valves to connect said tubular member first with the vacuum pump and then with the solution receptacle, andclutch means for: connecting said cams to said shaft for a predetermined interval to actuate said levers.

5. In a filling machine of the class de-' scribed, a tubular member for, receiving the tubular extension of a double-walledglass bottle, means for holdingthe connected bottle in an inclined position with the base pro jecting downward, means for connecting said member with a vacuum pump, means for connecting said member with a receptacle containing a suitable solution, a valve for con trolling each of said connections, a rotary shaft, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft and normally disconnected therefrom, a pair of levers controlled by said cams for operating said valves, to connect said tubular member first with the vacuum pump and then with the solution receptacle, and pedal-operated clutch mechanism for connecting said cams to said shaft for one revolution and automatically disconnecting the cams from the shaft at the end of one revolution.

6. In a filling machme of the class described meansfor connecting a double-walled glass bottle with a vacuum pump, an open receptacle connected with a source of silver solution, a tube for connecting the evacuated bottle with the silver solution in said receptacle, said tube having an end dipping into the solution in said receptacle, andautomatic means for adding an amount of acid to the silver solution in said open receptacle just before or as the solution is drawn into the evacuated bottle. I I

7. In a filling machine of the class described, means for connecting a doublewalled glass bottle with a vacuum pump, means for connecting the evacuated bottle with a receptacle containing a silver solution, a tiltable cup mounted adjacent said recepml, and properly timed connections for automatically tilting said cup to pour the acid content into the silver solution in the receptaclc just before or as the solution is drawn into the evacuated bottle.

8, In a filling machine of the class described, a fixed tubular member extending iu'iwardly at an angle for receiving the tubular extension of a double-walled glass bottle in an airtight fit, a support cooperating with said member to hold the connected bottle in a stationary inclined position with the base projecting downward, means for connecting said tubular member with a vacuum pump, connections leading from said tubular member to a re eptacle containing a suitable solution, valve mechanism for connecting said tubular member lirst with the vacuum pump andthen with said receptacle, means for operating said valve mechanism, and means for automatically adding a measured amount of acid to the silver solution in the receptacle just before or as the evacuated bottle draws in the solution.

9. In a filling machine of the class described, a tubular member for receiving the tubularextension of a double-walled glass bottle, means for connecting said member with a vacuum pump, meansfor connecting said member with a receptacle containing a silver solution, valve mechanism for connectingsai d tubular member first with the vacuum pump andthen with the solution receptacle, means for operating said valve mechanism, an acid cup tiltably mounted adjacent said receptacle, and connections for automatically tilting said cup to add an amount of acid to the silver solution in the receptacle just before or as the evacuated bottle draws in the solution. I I

I 10. In a filling machine of the class de scribed, a tubular member for receiving the tubular extension of a double-walled glass bottle, means for connecting said member witha vacuum pump, means for connecting said member with a receptacle containing a silver solution, a valve for controlling each of said connections, a rotary shaft, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft and normally disconnectedtherefrom, a pair of levers con= trolled by said earns for operating said valves to'connect said tubular member first with the vacuum pump and then with the solution receptacle, clutch means for connecting said cams to said shaft'for a predetermined interval to actuate said levers, an acid cup tiltably mounted adjacent said receptacle, and means controlled by one of said cams for tilting said cup to add an amount of acid to the silver solution in the receptacle just before or as the evacuated bottle draws in thesolution. y t I 11. In a filling machine of the class described, a tubular member for receiving the tubular extension of a double-walled glass bot-tle, means for connecting said member with a vacuum pump, means for'connectin'g said member'witha receptacle containing a silver solution, avalve for each of said con necting means, a continuously rotating shaft, cam mechanism mounted on said shaft but normally disconnected therefrom, pedal-operated means for c upIing saidcam mechanism to said shaft for one revolution thereof, connections between said cam mechanism and said valves for so operating the latter that said tubular member is first connected with the vacuum pump and then with the receptacle containingthe silver solution, an acid container associated with said receptaole, and means controlled by said cam-mecha nism for causing said container to discharge a quantity of, acid lnto the silver solutn 

